Where We’re At: False Spring to Pre-Spring

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Who has uplifting photos of their bikes in springtime to share? Bonus points if your bike is parked in front of a flowering tree. This is the thing I miss most about Vegas - springtime with cherry blossom trees. Rivs with flowering trees - we can make this a thing. It would be a welcome distraction from the sadness in the news.

It’s my first winter in Michigan, and I’m ready for it to be over. I have looked longingly at my bikes hanging in the garage over January and February. Now it’s March, and the locals have promised that we get spring 2 weeks into it. We’ve had a 60 degree day that plunged to 28 degrees the following day. The day after THAT it snowed. Nature is telling lies and it’s hard on a person, but it is the way of things here. I think we are somewhere between False Spring and Pre-Spring. Real Spring might be here late next week. 

The snow is mostly melted and the roads are completely clear. There is green grass popping up and The lakes are thawing and there is much birdsong. I’ve taken advantage of the days that offer a little sunshine (though it’s only 30-some degrees) and have been exploring by bike. The Clem is a wanderer, and the Platys are purpose-driven. You want to move quickly, you take the Raspberry. You want to run errands, you take the Mermaid. I’m in love with the whole trio. Here’s what we’ve been up to. Photos in the next post.

Looking forward to seeing your photos, too.

Leah 

[Leah Peterson]

On Mar 9, 2022, at 7:59 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:



--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/b_pSV7BHF_k/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/66d54694-a074-47f3-9180-e932e0cf972dn%40googlegroups.com.

[Jon Dukeman]

Wait till the dogwood trees bloom.

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/449E56F0-61D5-4C50-99DC-4A22D7E38943%40gmail.com.

[Richard Rose]

Leah, I worked with an elderly gentleman 40+ years ago (now I am the elderly one) and he had this to say on the subject;

“Do not even think about spring before April 15.” I have never forgotten this primarily because he was largely correct. But it is so hard to be patient.

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 9, 2022, at 8:34 PM, Jon Dukeman <row.n.2...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAMO8PLh%3D2jkBkBviDcac0Kz%2BswkznW0jspTkkMEHPNSf-JsMMg%40mail.gmail.com.

[George Schick]

Hmmm...that building mural in one of those photos looks kinda familiar.  Kalamazoo?  And back on the subject of Spring weather in these parts, there's no accurate way to predict it.  Last year I was trapped inside working on a major remodeling job in one of the bedrooms - drywall repair, texture painting, installation of a ceiling fan, etc. - looking out the window at unexpectedly nice weather during the entire months of March and April and not being able to take advantage of it.  I was hoping for a replay of that kind of Spring this year, but we're not quite there yet.

[George Schick]

I should add that I've noticed large flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying over the Northeast Illinois area during the past couple of weeks while I was out walking the dog.  When they begin to return to their Summer nesting grounds it's always a good sign that Spring may be just around the corner :-)

[Christine Rose]

Leah, I think that Clem needs some studded tyres. Then you would only have to look longingly at your Platypuses in January/February! Riding on quiet snow packed streets is an absolute joy, feels like I'm cheating, being out there on two wheels in the winter, it is exhilarating!

Christine in Denver

[John Rinker]

A Spring breeze is blowing
I’m bursting with laughter
— wishing for flowers

Matsuo Basho, Spring, 1668

Pedals fall on fallen petals.

My tires are the scent of Spring.

And I too, burst with laughter.

Sweet As, Spring, 2022

[islaysteve]

How about an artsy one?  It's my Bleriot with our azaleas in the background; a previous Springtime.  It's not quite Spring here in Maryland, but its just around the corner.  Cheers, Steve

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

No uplifting pictures as requested, unfortunately... but on Monday when it hit above 70 degrees I managed to fit in two short windy rides into the day on a recently re-basketed bike I plan to continue using through spring.   This was right before temps dropped back down to freezing overnight and a bone chilling 35-40F with high humidity the follow days that further reinforces that longing for warmer days to come.  On the brightside, a few red winged blackbirds have already arrived in the area and spring peeper frogs have just begun their annual rituals and for me those are audible indicators that Spring has finally begun!

Brian Cole

Lawrenceville NJ

On Friday, March 11, 2022 at 3:39:03 AM UTC-5 John Rinker wrote:

[ascpgh]

I failed at having my bike in pictures, i didn't capture the colors of nature erupting to compliment with my bike. What I did do was go for an afternoon ride to the Point where the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers merge becoming the Ohio River. Breezy and temps in the 50°s but those clouds look like something's up. 8" of snow for Saturday. My morning commute and a view out the windows as temps continued falling to 15°. Momentarily jealous of pics from the Everglades and budding crocus. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh (where it's going to be 58° today)